Festival of Lights: Eco-, Artisan- and Globally-Centered Hanukkah Celebration

In an exciting and bold move to bring one of the most well-known Jewish holidays into the context of modern living in the Bay Area, the Osher Marin JCC, in partnership with 12 of the most forward-thinking Jewish organizations, presents the Festival of Lights, the biggest Hanukkah celebration in the North Bay. The celebration, focused on making the holiday relevant and accessible to everyone, will be marked with ecologically centered activities; local artisanal arts, crafts and music; and a globally minded exploration of Hanukkah traditions from around the world. This joyous, unprecedented event is free and open to people of all ages and backgrounds. Guests are encouraged to bring warm jackets, raincoats and sleeping bags which, in partnership with St. Vincent De Paul Dining Room, will be collected and given to the unsheltered in the local community. 

Festival of Lights will include a bicycle smoothie station co-presented by Hazon, the largest Jewish environmental organization in America; nature tour around the Osher Marin JCC with Wilderness Torah; vegetable art to better understand the Jewish connection to the earth with Urban Adamah; exploration of Hanukkah traditions from other countries with Be’chol Lashon; artisan marketplace featuring dozens of local artists offering a variety of handmade crafts, jewelry, photography, scarves, Judaica and more; latkes, sufganiyot (donuts), brisket and other holiday favorites from Mangia/Nosh Café, arts and crafts, game activities and a jumpy house for children, local school musical performances with the Drake High School Jazz Band and the Jewish Community High School A Capella Choir; holiday stories and sing-alongs with Isaac Zones and Brady Gill, co-presented by The PJ Library; movie screening of Chanukah on Planet Matzah Ball and free 5-minute chair massages.

WHO: All are invited. Event is free.

WHEN: Sunday, December 11, 2011, from 11:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. (As part of the Family Connections programming, for families with babies and toddlers: 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. there will be a special, free gathering for families with children ages 0 to 3 and their siblings with music, art, cooking and schmoozing. Please RSVP to Melody at mhorowitz@marinjcc.org.)

WHERE: Osher Marin JCC, 200 North San Pedro Road, San Rafael.

PARKING: Ample free parking. Also, a free shuttle will run from the overflow parking lot at Marin Community Federation at 45 San Pablo Avenue (across North San Pedro Road from the Civic Center) from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

About the Osher Marin JCC

The Osher Marin JCC is the community center of Marin County. Epitomizing the essence of Marin, with a range of authentic cultural experiences enjoyed by many generations, the Osher Marin JCC offers award-winning facilities, abundant physical and educational activities and world-class programming relevant to our entire community today. Since the Osher Marin JCC’s founding in 1947, the center has become recognizable for its rich history of Jewish traditions and values with an unparalleled all-inclusive community spirit. For more information about the Osher Marin JCC, please visit http://www.marinjcc.org.